Seth Rogen Says He Has No Plans to Work With James Franco Again as Friendship Remains Estranged

Seth Rogen has reaffirmed that he has no plans to reunite professionally with longtime collaborator James Franco, years after sexual misconduct allegations against the actor led to a public fallout between the former friends.

Speaking on The New York Times’ “The Daily” podcast, Rogen addressed questions about his relationship with Franco and made it clear that his position has not changed since he first distanced himself from the actor in 2021.

“I have not worked with him in years,” Rogen said. “I haven’t worked with him in a really long time, and I have no plans to.”

The comments mark Rogen’s strongest public statement yet regarding the future of one of Hollywood’s most recognizable creative partnerships.

Seth Rogen Declines to Discuss Personal Details

During the interview, Rogen acknowledged that ending such a significant friendship has been complicated but said the situation remains deeply personal.

“I honestly think the nuance of it is too personal for me to get into right now,” he said. “It is a very personal thing, and I think there’s the public-facing side of it, which I’ve spoken about, and I have the same stance publicly that I’ve had.”

Rogen added that discussing the matter in greater detail could involve other people whose privacy he wants to protect.

“I don’t know what I would benefit from getting deeply into it in this moment,” he said, adding that “nothing has changed really since the last time I talked about all this.”

When asked whether he still speaks with Franco, Rogen replied, “I haven’t talked to him in a long time, no.”

James Franco Allegations Led to Professional Split

The breakdown in Rogen and Franco’s relationship followed a series of sexual misconduct allegations against Franco that gained widespread attention during the #MeToo movement in 2018.

In January of that year, several women publicly accused Franco of inappropriate behavior. Shortly afterward, The Los Angeles Times published a report featuring allegations from five women, including former students at Franco’s acting school, Studio 4.

Among the allegations were claims that Franco created uncomfortable working environments, pressured women into participating in sexually explicit scenes, and engaged in inappropriate conduct with students.

Franco denied some allegations at the time but later acknowledged in a 2021 interview that he had sexual relationships with students at his acting school.

“Over the course of my teaching, I did sleep with students, and that was wrong,” Franco said during an appearance on SiriusXM’s “The Jess Cagle Podcast.”

2021 Lawsuit Settlement

In 2019, former students Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal filed a class-action lawsuit against Franco and his production company, RabbitBandini.

The lawsuit alleged sexual harassment, exploitation, fraud, and breach of contract, claiming that Studio 4 was used to recruit young women under the promise of professional opportunities.

In June 2021, Franco agreed to a $2.235 million settlement to resolve the case. The settlement included payments to the plaintiffs and a compensation fund for other class members. Franco did not admit legal wrongdoing as part of the agreement.

A 20-Year Hollywood Partnership Comes to an End

Rogen and Franco first met on the set of the cult television series “Freaks and Geeks” in 1999. Over the next two decades, they became one of Hollywood’s most successful comedy duos.

Their collaborations included major projects such as:

• “Pineapple Express” (2008)

• “This Is the End” (2013)

• “The Interview” (2014)

• “The Disaster Artist” (2017)

“The Disaster Artist” ultimately became their final project together, with Franco winning a Golden Globe for his performance shortly before the allegations surfaced publicly.

Franco Previously Said Friendship Is “Over”

Franco has also acknowledged the apparent end of the friendship.

During a 2021 appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Franco said Rogen’s decision was “hurtful” but understandable.

More recently, Franco told Variety that he had attempted to reconnect with Rogen without success.

“I haven’t talked to Seth,” Franco said. “I love Seth, we had 20 great years together, but I guess it’s over. And not for lack of trying. I’ve told him how much he’s meant to me.”

For now, Rogen’s latest comments leave little doubt about where things stand. The actor and producer says he has not spoken to Franco in years and has no intention of working with him again, signaling that their once-celebrated Hollywood partnership remains firmly in the past.